Shirley Jaffe (1923–2016)
What is Shirley Jaffe’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 64 auction results for Shirley Jaffe at 14 houses since 2005. Over the last 24 months the median price was $9,788 including buyer’s premium (middle half $776–$13,765, n=28). The auction record is $374,674 for La Basilique (2025, Artcurial). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Basilique, 1994 | Huile sur toile | $374,674 | Artcurial | Jun 2025 |
| 2 | Swinging, 2012 | Huile sur toile | $127,389 | Artcurial | Jun 2025 |
| 3 | The Golden Edge, 1982 | Oil paint | $126,248 | Christie's | Sep 2024 |
| 4 | Nuit d'Hiver, 1960 | Oil on canvas | $94,860 | Galerie Kornfeld Auktionen Bern | Sep 2020 |
| 5 | Pile ou Face, 2013 | Painting | $82,421 | Galerie Bernaerts | Sep 2022 |
| 6 | Whirling Dervish ou Indian Flight, 1986 | Lin | $73,103 | Artcurial | Dec 2014 |
| 7 | Witch's Brother, 1982 | Signée | $61,267 | Artcurial | May 2017 |
| 8 | On the quai, 2006 | Huile sur toile | $60,567 | Christie's | Oct 2017 |
| 9 | Triangle II, 1992 | Huile sur toile | $50,428 | Artcurial | Dec 2018 |
| 10 | PINK AND BLUE SQUARES IN YELLOW, 1976 | Signée et datée au dos "Shirley Jaffe | $37,091 | Artcurial | Nov 2017 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 20 | $33,283 |
| Works on paper | 20 | $12,136 |
| Prints | 11 | $879 |
| Other | 7 | $447 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 19 | $10,838 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 19 | $1,542 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 64 results from 14 houses · How we compute these figures
Shirley Jaffe is an American artist with 69 auction lots recorded since 2005, median price $11,566. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page. Some sold prices are not yet verified as premium-inclusive or hammer, and are marked on this page.
A work by Shirley Jaffe sold in 2025 for $20,400, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
3 Shirley Jaffe works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Shirley Jaffe free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Shirley Jaffe record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Shirley Jaffe on OpeningBid →What is a Shirley Jaffe work worth?
Across 63 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Shirley Jaffe work is $11,566.
The median Shirley Jaffe painting sells for $28,475 across 23 lots.
The median Shirley Jaffe work on paper sells for $10,200 across 17 lots.
The median Shirley Jaffe print sells for $975 across 4 lots.
Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
Price breakdown by category
| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 4 | $975 | $1,542 | — | 2025-07-02 |
| Paintings | 23 | $28,475†‡ | $374,674 | — | 2025-07-31 |
| Works on Paper | 17 | $10,200 | $25,803 | — | 2026-06-10 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 4 | $126,819 | $374,674 | — | 2025-06-05 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Shirley Jaffe's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (4 lots) median $975. Paintings (23 lots) median $28,475, record $374,674. A typical Shirley Jaffe painting sells for around 29× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 4 lots) the median is $126,819.
Price by size
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 7 | $7,800–$25,905‡ | $20,206‡ | $29,476 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $18,216–$68,167 | $22,265 | $126,248 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 5 | $60,567–$127,389† | $94,860† | $374,674 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 11 | $9,675–$14,243 | $10,200 | $20,400 |
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2025 | $374,674 |
| Paintings | 2025 | $127,389 |
| Works on Paper | 2020 | $25,803 |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $21,859 |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $1,542 |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $1,522 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Shirley Jaffe worth?
Across 63 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Shirley Jaffe work is $11,566. The median Shirley Jaffe painting sells for $28,475 across 23 lots. The median Shirley Jaffe work on paper sells for $10,200 across 17 lots. The median Shirley Jaffe print sells for $975 across 4 lots. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is the average price of a Shirley Jaffe painting?
Based on 23 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Shirley Jaffe painting is $28,475. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is Shirley Jaffe's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Shirley Jaffe painting is $374,674.
What is the average price of a Shirley Jaffe work on paper?
Based on 17 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Shirley Jaffe work on paper is $10,200.
What is Shirley Jaffe's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Shirley Jaffe work on paper is $25,803.
What is the average price of a small Shirley Jaffe work on paper?
Based on 11 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Shirley Jaffe work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $10,200, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
What is Shirley Jaffe's auction record?
Shirley Jaffe's auction record is $374,674, set in 2025.
See the full Shirley Jaffe record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Shirley Jaffe on OpeningBid →